Evil Hurney

because if Watson wanted to be traded to the Saints this would have happened already....

I view all these meetings as DW enjoying being essentially a FA for the first (and likely only) time in his career. Why not meet these teams and let them fawn over you while buying you steak dinners and booze. I find it more interesting that teams with seemingly established QBs (e.g. Falcons) are taking these meetings. That sends a pretty strong message to the incumbent. The latter is part of the reason the 49ers were quick to "leak" disinterest to so many sources when they were getting mentioned as a team meeting DW today.

Unless they are the top of their position I am a fan of waiting out the initial phase of FA. Deals get much much better and we have a lot of areas that can be improved with mid-tier guys.

The cap is a myth and DJ is a really good WR. He'll be back.

Didn't see that one. That sucks, a good OL target that doesn't hit you in the comp formula.

Makes it easier to move Robbie And harder to keep DJ

I liked how they did it with Jimmy G. No-trade that eventually expires after a certain point. Encourages both sides to come back to the table and update the deal.

Hopefully somebody told Tepper to get the jet fueled up have Mrs. Rhule whip up a batch of meatballs.

And that still didn't get them under the cap. "...the New Orleans Saints restructured their contract with star cornerback Marshon Lattimore, which gets them very nearly to salary cap compliance ..."

Saints are the only team already over the cap for 2023. They just keep moving money to a new credit card.

Good thing we have a professional salesman on the coaching staff

They already had to implode a good portion of their roster to begin with. This could just be seen as a way to offload some guys that were already getting cut/traded for value.

I concur. They'd have to pay the Texans to take on some extra dead cap IMO (i.e. restructure before trade).

Related WR market isn't that strong, but I also doubt we get more than a day 3 pick for Robbie considering his contract.

I think that takes the list of realistic suitors down to: Raiders Lions Panthers Seahawks Based upon current QB, division, cap space, and no putting out disinterest

Crazy thought ... What if Tampa screws up their future cap to get DW causing Brady to unretire since Tampa cannot pay both and gets his trade to San Fran.

Technically Russ has a no-trade as well, but has agreed to go to Denver in the past week ... it seems like the no-trade shouldn't have been holding up a potential trade

The Rams seemed pretty desperate and it's well known that other teams were trying to trade for Stafford.

I'm a big fan of signing guys that were cut and don't count against the comp pick formula. We have several of our own in FA this season and stand to net several comp picks (which we may need if a certain trade happens). Some that I like from this list (https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-salary-cap-cuts-2022-team-tracker-nfl-free-agency/zx5xnb9rqqc06kkm2opgol7b) : G Rodger Saffold LB A.J. Klein

For the prices being suggested, the Texans would hopefully be willing to take Darnold.

Yes. The team acquiring can restructure DW once the ink dries on the trade. "A simple restructure would allow Watson’s 2022 cap hit to be as low as $9.53 million following a trade." (source: https://overthecap.com/the-cost-of-trading-for-deshaun-watson/)

Looks like he'll be a Panther in 2022. I still think he's being penciled in as starting C for the time being.

Seems like a lawyer doing their job (assuming this is from the defense). Casting doubt on the motives of the whole by highlighting a few. Overall, there's probably a mix of $$$ chasers and actual victims, but they get lumped in together.

I know y'all like to poo on Rhule but he's not where he is without knowing a LOT of football.

I honestly don't see the Panthers getting Watson at this point. I feel like if all 3 parties wanted it to happen it would have happened by now. (For the record, I would like to see him traded to the team) I suspect we have had an offer (or at least the general framework for one) for quite a while but nothing has happened. That means either the Texans, Watson, or both are dragging their feet for a reason; best case for the Panthers is it's the Texans waiting for criminal charges to be dropped to drive up prices. I see only a few logical outcomes from the grand jury decision: Criminal charges are pursued meaning DWs chances of jail time increase dramatically and he is untradeable. He likely goes on the exempt list at this point. Criminal charges are NOT pursued meaning several other teams jump into the fold. IF it's the Texans dragging their feet (and not DW) we have a chance as I doubt we get outbid. I doubt this is the case as the Texans are risking getting nothing if criminal charges are pursued. IF it's DW dragging his feet b/c he prefers other destinations then we are just the "other" offer used to bid up the actual winner of DW's services.